J*A*S*M

Fortunately, this time I avoided all the hype, so I can’t be very disappointed. Iron Sky is a nice fun thing, no more than that. It works surprisingly well as direct-to-video sci-fi B-movie silliness, but, if behind the B-movie gimmick of Nazis in the moon, the creators wanted to hide a serious and ambitious political satire, well, we can’t say it was a success. There are some signs, yes, but the satire feels more like a middle-school reflection on “world politics and its afflictions” –  eager, but at the same time too simplistic and superficial. As a parody, Iron Sky fails mainly because it’s hardly funny (do not confuse fun with funny). Thumbs up, but only reluctantly.

A handful of cops, a billion Asian butchers and a building where even Chuck Norris would shit his pants. In other words, a manual for success. We can finally confirm that the aura of an exceptional film built around this Indonesian action sensation since its première at the Toronto Film Festival a few months ago is the real deal. The Raid: Redemption is the kind of film you really don’t see every day. A relentless action ride, brutal, intense and at times terrifying. It’s hard to talk in detail about this beauty, it has to be seen. It’s been long since a genre five-stars was this pure :)

This is far from great filmmaking or a heart-attack inducing horror masterpiece, but it’s certainly a pleasant ninety minute dose of proper terror. In the first half, the film is especially successful in generating tension and fear, the ghost shows itself basically from the first minute, the camera moves nicely in the interiors of the “haunted” house – I have a weak spot for this, so I really enjoyed myself. It’s a pity that the climax is, to put it mildly, odd – if you look back at the story, it doesn’t make much sense. In the first half hour, The Pact was aiming at a strong four-star rating, but in the end in my eyes it’s “just” a very nice genre piece. Thumbs up regardless.

A very well made horror sci-fi short with one great thing: the look of the monster. It’s brilliantly done and looks terrifying, I would love to take it home with me.

I wasn’t expecting it to be particularly good, but surprisingly, it is good. A lot of people didn’t like it, though, because it takes the word “slow” to a completely different level… Compared to it, Stake Land is an action movie. Exit Humanity is another film from the category of post-apocalyptic road movie dramas, this time set during the American Civil War and spiced up with zombies. The atmosphere is great, the zombies are fantastic… I’m not that excited, but it does deserve 7/10. The best Canadian horror film since Pontypool.

Spain with snow is sexy and I’m always up for any indie sci-fi, it’s a pity that Eva is so bloody predictable! Really, so much that it almost ruins an otherwise beautiful atmospheric experience. Slightly above-par.

The transition to full fiction doesn’t fit Cohen at all. Where Borat and Bruno were sharply satirical thanks to their documentary format, which allowed average Americans to make complete fools of themselves, The Dictator is only eager and a little vapid. Cohen barks and bites in every direction again, but this time it feels as if instead of proper fangs, he had fake teeth. Some of the scenes are incredibly funny (birth! head! onanism!), but I was struck by a great deal of slag (so-so jokes) and many scenes that spend minutes lazily bordering the cringe, only to fizzle out without producing anything very funny (the scene on the helicopter that looked good in the trailer is ruined in the film). There are some good moments, but I expected (and wanted) something much sharper. 6+

After the initial intense feeling of dismay and cringe, the second half brought a satisfactory, four-star worthy experience. If I ever watch it again (which I doubt, it’s more like a snack), maybe the experience will be more fully positive, but until then, I can’t give it more than three stars. In any case, there are tonnes of one-liners, likeable protagonists, and it’s fine overall.

A view into the soul of a serial killer that it’s rather unknown in Czechia. Something between Henry and The Poughkeepsie Tapes, and it’s not at all bad.

Two stars for the technical aspect, otherwise, awfully dull. It kept me interested for about 45 minutes, then it lost me. An unlikeable hunk jumps around in Mars surrounded by four-armed green creatures, there’s the expected fateful encounter… and I don’t give a toss… If it was at least funny in any way! But no, just sterile boredom. Millions of dollars wasted and one of the most pointless blockbusters in recent years.